It would vex a DOG (man) to see a pudding creep

Insights

Frustration at the Unnatural

The proverb is a powerful metaphor for the extreme frustration and helplessness felt when witnessing an event that is fundamentally wrong, illogical, or contrary to the natural order of things.

Vexation at Inefficiency

It captures the vexation that arises from dealing with situations or people who are agonizingly slow or inefficient, as suggested by the cross-reference 'to run as swift as a pudding would creep'. The 'creeping' symbolizes a pace so unnatural it becomes maddening.

Violation of Expectation

The saying illustrates the irritation that occurs when basic expectations are violated. A pudding should be inert; its movement represents a breach of fundamental rules, symbolizing any situation where reality fails to conform to reasonable expectations, causing bewilderment and anger.

Psychology of the Uncanny

The proverb taps into the psychological discomfort of the 'uncanny,' where an ordinary object behaving unnaturally causes deep-seated frustration. The image of a 17th-century pudding—often a boiled, sausage-like item—'creeping' might evoke the repulsive sight of vermin, adding a layer of disgust to the vexation over a world turned upside down.

Benchmark for Absurdity

This expression serves as a benchmark for absolute absurdity. By presenting a physically impossible and bizarre scenario, it creates a powerful and memorable metaphor for any situation that is so nonsensical or contrary to expectations that it provokes a feeling of helpless anger.

Rhetorical Amplification

The inclusion of 'dog' alongside 'man' is a rhetorical flourish to amplify the level of frustration. It suggests the event is so profoundly unnatural that it would disturb the fundamental worldview of even a simple creature, thereby highlighting the universal and instinctual nature of the vexation.

Rhetorical Devices

Hyperbole

The proverb uses extreme exaggeration—an impossible scenario—to emphasize the highest possible degree of frustration or annoyance.

Surreal Imagery

The core image of a 'creeping pudding' is bizarre and surreal, making the expression highly memorable and effective at conveying a sense of profound absurdity.

Personification

The pudding, a mundane object, is given the animate quality of 'creeping', which is the source of the unnaturalness and vexation that drives the proverb's meaning.